Internal combustion engine



Aug/25, 1931. A. M. NIVEN 1,820,630

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE I File March 1' 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MvZkMMoi/MH ATTORNEY.

' Aug. 25, 1931. A. M. NIVEN 1,320,630

- INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE File Mar h 1 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 HQ w INVENTOR. flT'cZ/e Map/72017 Mien BY 0 Z4 Z0 Z6 I ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARCHIE HACPHAIL NIVEN, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CONTINENTAL MOTORS CORPORATION, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed March 17, 1928. Serial No. 262,584.

This invention relates to internal combus-v tion engines of the air cooled type adapted for general use, wherever a prime mover is desired, one adaptation being particularly in connection with lighting sets, or for farm or country house purposes.

One object of my invention resides in a having a surrounding air circulating cham-" ber open at the bottom whereby the core used in casting the chamber is simplified since it may be supported at the chamber opening, my invention in this respect being an in1- provement over the engine disclosed-in British Patent 192,497 of 1921 to IVilliam Guthrie.

A further feature of my invention resides in the provision of a novel cylinder air cooling casing.

Further features and advantages of my in vention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims.

Inthe drawings illustrating one embodian air acket casing structure J havlng l0w ment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation view through the engine, and

Fig. 2 is a like view at right angles to Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings I have illustratedmy invention in connection with a sleeve valve-engine of the Burt-McCollum type although it will be apparent as the description progresses that the features of my invention are adaptable to other types ofinternal cornbustion engines.

Reference character A represents the crankshaft rotatably supported in the crankcase structure B, C-being the cylinder having intake and exhaust ports 10, and 11 and the radial cooling fins 12. The cylinder is closed by a head D having cooling fins 13 and'spark plug opening 14. The sleeve valve E is driven by a mechanism F from the crankshaft so as to move the sleeve valve in a combined oscillating and reciprocating path for the type of engine illustrated, whereby the 50 sleeve intake and exhaust ports cooperate with the corresponding cylinder ports to produce the well known valving functions of the engine. A working piston G operates the crankshaft through the usual connecting rod H.

The crankcase structure B has an inner crankshaft enclosing casing 15 forming an oil reservoir and opening upwardly to receive the sleeve E and cylinder C. The I crankcase structure B also has an outer casing 16 at least partially surrounding the inner casing 15 and spaced therefrom to provide an air chamber 17 This air chamber 17 is open at the top 18 to receive a downward stream of air from the fins 12. The outer casing 16 has an air outlet opening 19 surrounding the crankshaft and-an opening 20 at the bottom of the casing spaced below the bottom wall of the inner casing 15. By reason of the opening 20 assisted by the openings 19 and 18 the air chamber 17 may be conveniently cast, this opening 20 further facilitating and cheapening the core operations in casting the crankcase structure B as will be readily understood.

In order to confine the cooling air I provide er portion 21 seating on the crankcase structure B, preferably on the outer casing 16. Thus the casing 16 has an annular shoulder 18 detachably receiving the lower end of the casing structure J whether the latter be made in one or more sections. By reason of the shoulder 18 an inexpensive means is provided for quickly attaching or detaching the casing J furthermore the air flow through the opening 18 is not interfered with since my construction provides a full opening area and smooth air flow in the vicinity of the opening 18. The jacket J has an upper portion 22 detachably connected at 23 with the upper end of the lower portion 21, this upper jacket portion surrounding the fins 13 and provided with an air inlet opening 24.

The crankshaft A is provided with a flywheel K preferably having incorporated therewith a fan 25 adapted to withdraw air from opening 19 whereby an induced cooling. draft for the engine is established from opening 24 downwardly through jacket J and around the air chamber 17. In order to seal the opening 20 against entry of air to the jacket 17 which might otherwise interfere with the desired air circulation for the fins 12 and 13, I preferably provide a sealing strip 26 of felt or other appropriate material around the bottom of casin 16, the engine being supported through this sealing intermediary which is compressed by the weight of the engine to provide an effective seal.

By reason of the connection 23 the upper jacket portion 22 may be removed without disturbing the lower portion 21 providing access to the cylinder head D and other upper portions of the engine.

Instead of providing the sealing strip 26 for preventing, passage of air through the core opening 20, this opening may be closed by other means. For example'a separate supporting base having a transverse web beneath and across the opening may be provided. such base being bolted or otherwise secured to the casing structure B. However for simplicity and cheapness of manufacture I prefer the illustrated embodiment of my invention.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising in combination, a cylinder, a crankshaft, a piston working within the cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft, a crankcase structure comprising an inner casing and an outer casing spaced from the inner casing. said outer casing having a core opening spaced below the bottom of said inner casing, and means inducing a circulation of cooling air downwardly along the cylinder exterior and into the space betweenthe inner and outer casing, said outer casing having an air outlet opening surrounding the crankshaft.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising in combination, a cylinder, a crankshaft, a piston working within the cylinder and op eratively connected to the crankshaft, a crankcase structure comprising an inner casing and an outer casing spaced from the inner casing, said outer casing having a core opening spaced below the bottom of said inner casing, means inducing a circulation of cooling air downwardly along the cylinder exterior and into the space between the inner and outer casing, said outer casing having an air outlet opening surrounding the crankshaft, and means sealing the said core opening against ssa e of air into the said space.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising in combination, a cylinder, a crankshaft. a piston working within the cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft, a crankcase structure comprising an inner casing and an outer casing spaced from the inner casing. said outer casing having a core opening spaced below the bottom of said inner casing and an air jacket surrounding the cylinder and opening downwardly to the space between the inner and outer casings, said outer casing having an air outlet adjacent and means inducing circulation of cooling air downwardly of the cylinder and into said outer casing.

5. An internal combustion engine comprising in combination, a cylinder, a crankshaft, a piston within the cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft, a crankcase structure having an inner chamber housing the crankshaft and an outerchamber extending substantially unrestrictedly downwardly to provide an opening spaced below the bottcm of the said inner chamber, means inducing circulation of cooling air downwardly of the cylinder and into said outer casing, and means substantially sealing said opening against passage of air therethrough.

6. An internal combustion engine comprising in combination, a cylinder, a crankshaft, a piston within the cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft, a crankcase structure having an inner chamber housing the crankshaft and an outer chamber, a fan on the crankshaft exteriorly of the said chambers, said outerchamber having an opening surrounding the crankshaft providing air circulation from the outer chamber to the fan, said outer chamber underlying the bottom of the inner chamber.

7. An internal combustion engine comprising in combination, a cylinder, acrankshaft, a piston within the cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft, a rectangular crankcase structure comprising an inner casing housing the crankshaft and an outer casing surrounding the inner casing on three sides of the engine, said outer casing having an air outlet surrounding the crankshaft.

8. An internal combustion engine comprising in combination, a cylinder, a crankshaft, a piston within the cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft, a rectangular crankcase structure comprising an inner casing housing the crankshaft and an outer casing surrounding the inner casing on three sides of the engine, said outer casing having an air outlet surrounding the crankshaft, and a common Wall for said casings on the fourth side of the engine.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of March, A. D. 1929 ARCHIE MACPHAIL NIVEN. 

